Palermo Maggio 23, 2004

The day before opening night of the Flying Dutchman
and the weather is glorious in Palermo. Mlada makes
her debut in Italy at Teatro Massimo tomorrow night.
Teatro Massimo is most widely known for the final
scene of Godfather III, where Michael Corrllione (Al
Pacino), the Godfather, is killed. In the classical
music world Teatro Massimo is considered one of the
finest and largest theatres in all of Europe. The
ceiling of the main concert hall is a beautiful fresco
depicting cherubs singing and playing instruments.
Spectators watch operas from plush red chairs and
elegantly decorated boxes. Teatro Massimo is an event
in itself.
Mlada has thrown herself into a very demanding
rehearsal schedule, but she has taken some time with
me for excursions in Palermo. One our favorite day
trips were to Porta Nuova, on the main thoroughfare
Vittorio Emanuele. Along the way we saw the
beautiful Cattedrale di Palermo ( Cathedral of
Palermo). The Palatina, near Porta Nuova, is a
beautiful chapel in the Parliamentary building. In
the Palatina, stories of the Old Testament, the
Gospels of Peter and Paul are depicted in gold mosaic.
Mlada spent a whole roll of film only in the chapel
and I filmed everything with our new digital camera.
Breathe taking.
After, we found a delightful locale negozio (local
store) and bought some souvenirs; red pepper spiced
chocolate, grappa, Nero D?Avola (a delicious dry red
wine, with grapes grown only in Sicily) and lemoncello
for my Godparents Arline and Dick Grotz, the greatest
godparents in the world. Mlada and I both have an
admitted weakness for Italian desserts. So,
naturally, during the day it is usual for us to rest
in an outdoor caffè with our espresso, cannoli and
marzipani.
Most opera singers are asked to stay in town for the
entire rehearsal period. The rehearsal period always
ends with 6 or 7 performances. The entire period can
be anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks. In Palermo, Mlada is
staying in an apartment of Salvatore Bruno. Mr. Bruno
was very nice and met Mlada at the airport after taken
her on a small excursion around Mt. Pelligrino. To my
shock, Mr. Bruno?s apartment is located next to
Uccardonne, the most infamous prison in Sicily.
Uccardonne is where all of the former Sicilian mob
bosses now call home. Mr. Bruno insures us that it is
quite safe, and even the chief magistrate of the high
court in Sicily has a house near Uccardonne. So,
every morning when we leave the apartment we wave at
the prison guards as they patrol the outside wall.
Today, Mlada is reposing before opening night. We
will have lunch with Mlada?s Italian agent Ettore
Volontieri, a sympathetic and a very talented
businessman.

Ci vediamo doppo. Ciao tutti!!!
Mlada and Peter